Roadmap

You probably found this website because you are waiting for your au pair to arrive or because you are thinking about hiring an au pair. So whether you are still in the orientation phase or already need to get some arrangements set, we understand that you wish to provide the best cultural experience possible for your (future) au pair. While providing this experience it is important to comply to Dutch law and regulations as wel as to your duty of care. To assist you with this, JoHo Insurances created a road map that specifically shows which steps to take in which phase of the journey.

Phase 1: Before your au pair travels  to the Netherlands

Step 1: Apply for the Au pair Insurance

• You (together with the Au pair agency) found yourself an au pair that matches your family. 
  • As soon as the date of departure is set you can apply for the Au pair insurance. 
  • It is recommendable to do the application 2 to 4 weeks in advance
  • Please note: it is important to apply for the insurance before the au pair leaves her home country. This way the au pair will be covered during her trip to the Netherlands as well.
• For most insurance companies application before actual departure is part of the conditions. Furthermore, some countries require you to present a proof of insurance coverage before they allow the au pair to travel out of the country.
• In some cases the Au pair agency arranges the Au pair insurance on your behalf. Make sure that in case you apply for the insurance yourself, to have the names (as mentioned in the passport) and date of birth of the au pair at hand.

Apply for the Au pair insurance

Phase 2 – Arrival in the Netherlands and first period of stay

Step 1: Registration at the Immigration and Naturalization Service

• After arrival in the Netherlands your au pair needs to register on your address at the Personal Records Database (BRP) at the municipality.
• Make an appointment at the municipality of your residence. Please note that in case your au pair comes from a non European country you need to make an appointment at IND first. This means that in case of a non European au pair you make an appointment at IND first, followed by an appointment at the municipality. 
• Contact your municipality soon to inform about waiting periods and possibly avoid waiting. 
• After registration at the BRP your au pair receives a social security number (BSN 'Burgerservicenummer').

Step 2: DigiD application and opening a bank account

• As soon as the au pair receives her BSN she can apply for DigiD. She needs a DigiD to be able to identify herself online on various websites of the public authorities. DigiD application can be done easily online on the website of the authorities. The DigiD website provides a roadmap with explanations in English as well.
• For the application of the Basic Health Insurance an IBAN bank account number on the name of the au pair is required. This means that the au pair needs to open a bank account at a Dutch bank.
• In order to be able to open a bank account the au pair needs to have a residence permit (non-European au pairs) as well as her BSN.

Step 3:  Apply for the Basic Health Insurance

• As soon as the au pair is registered at your address and as well received her BSN, it is possible to apply for the Basic Health Insurance.
• Please note: the Basic Health Insurance needs to be applied for within 4 months after arrival in the Netherlands.
• You can apply for any Dutch Basic Health Insurance. JoHo Insurances recommends the Basic Health Insurance of Zorg & Zekerheid because of their low premium, experience with au pairs and large network of health care providers.
• JoHo has also drawn up instructions for you to apply for the Zorg & Zekerheid basic health insurance.
• Please note: In case the au pair does not have Basic Health Insurance after those 4 months, the ISIS Au pair insurance will stop providing coverage for Coronavirus and COVID-19 related expenses. It is important that you inform us in time should you experience any difficulties to arrange Basic Health Insurance within those 4 months after arrival.

Apply for Basic Health Insurance

Step 4: Apply for Health Care Allowance

• Health Care Allowance is based on the income of your au pair. This means that the au pair, in almost all cases, has the right to receive the maximum of Health Care Allowance. The Health Care Allowance in most cases compensates the entire premium of the Basic health insurance.
• Allowance can be applied for online with the personal DigiD of the au pair or by phone.
• More about Health Care Allowance in the FAQ section

Step 5: Optional: Adjust coverage from All-in to Additional (discount)

• Once the Basic Health Insurance (basisverzekering) has been arranged, you can change the medical coverage from the Au pair Insurance from All-in to Additional, as an addition to the Basic Health Insurance.
• From that moment onward you pay a reduced premium since the Additional premium is 25% less then the All-in premium.
• Be aware that the Additional plan does not provide coverage for (emergency) dental treatment.

Phase 3 – Return to the country of residence

Step 1: Cancel Health Care Allowance

• To avoid future problems it is important that the au pair cancels her Health Care Allowance at the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration before departure. This will prevent the au pair from continuing receiving allowance, even after departure, which she will have to pay back to the tax authorities afterwards.
• Your au pair can easily cancel the allowance by calling: 0800 - 0543 (free). Available from Monday till Thursday from 8.00 to 20.00 en on Friday from 8.00 to 17.00. Make sure you have the BSN of the au pair at hand when calling.
• Tip: we recommend to terminate the allowance at least two months before the au pair leaves The Netherlands, since the request to cancel the allowance takes some time to be processed by the tax authorities.

Step 2: Deregister at the Municipality (BRP)

• Most municipalities allow your au pair to deregister a couple of days before departure.
• We recommend you to ask for proof of deregistration.

Step 3: Terminate Basic Health Care Insurance

• In most cases the Basic Health Insurance will be terminated automatically after deregistration at the municipality. This might take a few weeks to be finalised. 
• In some cases it might be useful to send a copy of deregistration to the insurance company to make sure they terminate the insurance. Please send this copy of deregistration after the actual date of deregistration. Before that the au pair is still registered and the insurance will not be stopped. 

Step 4: Terminate the Au pair Insurance on early departure (optional)

• The Au pair insurance should end on the day the au pair arrives in her home country.
• However in some cases the au pair returns to her home country on an earlier date than originally planned because of circumstances.
• In those cases you can use our online form in order to apply for a termination of the Au pair insurance and ask for a restitution of the premium for the remaining months.

Step 5: Extend the Au pair Insurance in case of delayed return (optional)

• In some cases, due to circumstances, it appears to be impossible for au pairs to return to their home country at the scheduled date. This might be because of travel restrictions, disease or other circumstances. In those cases it is important to extend the ISIS Au pair Insurance on time (at least before the end date of the insurance).
• In case your au pair still has Basic Health Insurance we advise you to continue the insurance until the expiration date of the residence permit.
• After the end date of the residence permit the au pair is officially no longer entitled to have a Basic Health Insurance, unless she comes from an European country.
• This means that in case your au pair comes from a non-European country and her residence permit expired it is even more important to have All-in coverage on your ISIS Au pair insurance and extend the insurance on time.
• In case your au pair is insured with Additional coverage only (on the ISIS Au pair insurance) and is no longer entitled to have Basic Health insurance it is important to mention this in your request to extend the insurance. This means the policy needs to be extended and coverage should be adjusted from Additional to All-in coverage.
• You can easily extend the insurance (and change coverage to All-in) by using our online form.